Bob Schieffer, a journalism legend from Fort Worth, is honored in ... Dallas. He can’t get over the irony

Respected CBS newsman Bob Schieffer was honored at The Dallas Morning News. Here, he’s toasted by Morning News editor Mike Wilson. (Photo courtesy of Irwin Thompson, DMN)

DALLAS, TEXAS -- The best known police reporter to ever come out of Fort Worth was honored today.

CBS newsman Bob Schieffer, celebrating his 50th year with the network (now semi-retired), went to the enemy camp for the honor.

Schieffer visited The Dallas Morning News, where he dedicated a conference room named after him and also spoke to a company-wide gathering of employees about his career and the future of journalism.

He talked about his start as a police reporter working the 6 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. shift — calling it the best job he ever had. But he kept commenting on the irony of a former Star-Telegram reporter getting honored by his once-heated competitors (from a half century ago).

Several times, he brought up Star-Telegram founder and noted Dallas enemy Amon G. Carter Sr. He reminded the Dallas newsroom that Carter disliked Dallas so much he’d bring his sack lunch to Dallas so he wouldn’t have to spend any money here.

This Dallas-Fort Worth rivalry is covered extensively in my new hit play and companion book – AMON! The Ultimate Texan.

And read more about the rivalry in my recent story in The Morning News: “Amon Carter’s old Fort Worth rivalry with Dallas still haunts us.”

Schieffer, 82, said he was glad to see the two cities getting along much better than they did when he worked here as a reporter in the 1960s.

He lives in Washington, D.C. but returns to Fort Worth often with his wife Pat. Both grew up in Cowtown. They’re big TCU football fans and attend games when they can. TCU’s journalism school is also named after Schieffer.

Morning News editor Mike Wilson said the conference room named after Schieffer is often used for job interviews where he meets the next generation of journalists and feels inspired by Schieffer’s name on the room.

Schieffer hosted the CBS Evening News and Face the Nation. He was also a longtime D.C. reporter with a reputation for honesty and fairness.

Schieffer meets with Morning News editor Mike Wilson in the room named in his honor. (Photo courtesy of Irwin Thompson, DMN)

Asked about the differences he’s found then and now between Dallas and Fort Worth, he answered, “The politics have changed, but I don’t think the people have.”

Texas, he said, “kind of sets ourselves apart from the rest of the country – and that’s a good thing.”

He added, “It’s an amazing thing what’s happening in Texas. It’s vibrant. ... This region has personality. Dallas is the financial hub, and Fort Worth is cowboys and culture.”